Nervous system Introduction Definition Examples Nervous System:  The network of nerve cells and fibres which transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.  Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) together make up the nervous system.  The Central Nervous System consists of the Brain and Spinal cord.  The Peripheral Nervous System further divides into Two types,  Somatic Nervous System (SNS) – Regulating sensation and motor control of skeletal muscle  Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) – Regulating involuntary functions such as heart rate and gut motility.  ANS further divides into Two types, Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System. Drugs acting on nervous system:  Central nervous system agents are medicines affecting the CNS made up of nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Example,  Hyoscyamus  Belladonna  Ephedra  Opium  Tea leaves  Coffee seeds  Coca Synopsis Drug name Synonyms Biological Source Family Chemical Constituents Uses

1. CHAPTER – V DRUGS ACTING ON NERVOUS SYSTEM
M.NITHYA B.PHARM, LECTURER, ECOP. 1
DRUGS ACTING ON NERVOUS SYSTEM
Nervous System:
 The network of nerve cells and fibres which transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.
 Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) together make up the nervous system.
 The Central Nervous System consists of the Brain and Spinal cord.
 The Peripheral Nervous System further divides into Two types,
 Somatic Nervous System (SNS) – Regulating sensation and motor control of skeletal muscle
 Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) – Regulating involuntary functions such as heart rate and gut
motility.
 ANS further divides into Two types, Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System.

2. CHAPTER – V DRUGS ACTING ON NERVOUS SYSTEM
M.NITHYA B.PHARM, LECTURER, ECOP. 2
Drugs acting on nervous system:
 Central nervous system agents are medicines affecting the CNS made up of nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
Example,
 Hyoscyamus
 Belladonna
 Ephedra
 Opium
 Tea leaves
 Coffee seeds
 Coca

3. CHAPTER – V DRUGS ACTING ON NERVOUS SYSTEM
M.NITHYA B.PHARM, LECTURER, ECOP. 3
Hyoscyamus Belladonna Ephedra
Opium Tea leaves Coffee Seeds Coca

4. CHAPTER – V DRUGS ACTING ON NERVOUS SYSTEM
M.NITHYA B.PHARM, LECTURER, ECOP. 4
Drug name Synonyms Biological Source Family Chemical
Constituents
Uses
Hyoscyamus
Tropane
Alkaloids
Henbane It Consists of the dried
leaves and Flowering
tops of Hyoscyamus
niger
Solanaceae Hyoscyamine
Atropine
Hyoscine
1. Purgatives
2. Relieve spasms of urinary
tract
3. Sedative
4. Check salivary secretion
5. Expectorant
6. Antispasmodic
7. Antiasthmatic
Chemical Test: Vitali-Morin Test (Confirmatory test for Tropane Alkaloid)
1. The tropane alkaloid is treated with fuming nitric acid, followed by evaporation to dryness and addition of methanolic potassium hydroxide
solution to an acetone solution of nitrated residue. Violet colouration takes place due to tropane derivative.
2. On addition of silver nitrate solution to solution of hyoscine hydrobromide, yellowish white precipitate is formed, which is insoluble in nitric
acid, but soluble in dilute ammonia.

5. CHAPTER – V DRUGS ACTING ON NERVOUS SYSTEM
M.NITHYA B.PHARM, LECTURER, ECOP. 5
Drug name Synonyms Biological Source Family Chemical
Constituents
Uses
Belladonna
Tropane
Alkaloids
Deadly Night
shade leaf
(European
belladonna)
It Consists of the
dried leaves and
other aerial parts of
Atropa belladonna
(European
belladonna)
OR
Atropa acuminata
(Indian belladonna)
Solanaceae Hyoscyamine
Atropine
Hyoscine
(Scopolamine)
Belladonine
Homotropine
(Synthetic
Compound)
1. Parasympatholytic drug
with anticholinergic
properties.
2. Reduce the secretions such
as sweat, saliva, gastric
juice.
3. Antispasmodic
4. Strong Purgative.
5. Antidote in Opium and
Chloral hydrate poisoning.

6. CHAPTER – V DRUGS ACTING ON NERVOUS SYSTEM
M.NITHYA B.PHARM, LECTURER, ECOP. 6
Drug name Synonyms Biological Source Family Chemical
Constituents
Uses
Ephedra
Amino Alkaloids Ma-Huang It Consists of the dried
young stems of Ephedra
gerardiana
Gnetaceae
(Ephedraceae)
Ephedrine
Nor-ephedrine
n-methyl ephedrine
Pseudo-ephedrine
Ephedradines
1. Sympathomimetic
2. Bronchodilator in
Asthma
3. Treatment of
Allergic conditions
like hay fever
4. Hypotensive effects